When the Cubs lost the series to the Tigers, Sianis sent Wrigley a telegram.

"Who stinks now?" it read.

The Cubs were never the same again. Over the years, ghoulish pranksters left dead goats at the stadium. They became known as the "Lovable Losers." A popular Chicago T-shirt reads, "What did Jesus say to the Cubs? Don't do anything till I get back."

Last year, the Cubs won 97 games. In the National League Championship Series, however, they were swept by a New York Mets team that won 90.

And who could forget the eighth inning of Game 6 of the 2003 NLCS between the Cubs and Florida Marlins?

The Cubs led 3-0. They were just five outs away from their first trip to the World Series since 1945.

Then a lifelong Cubs fan named Steve Bartman, seated down the left field line, reached for a foul ball. He tipped the ball away from the outstretched glove of leaping Cubs outfielder Moises Alou. His interference was the catalyst for a heartbreaking Marlins rally and eventual series win.

But that is all in the past.

Oh, but back to the billy goat curse. The kids on the Chicago team believe that memory should be baa-nished.